Violinist of Hamelin: The Movie

Violinist of Hameln (Japanese: ハーメルンのバイオリン弾き, Hepburn: Hamerun no Baiorin Hiki) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Michiaki Watanabe. It was serialized by Enix (later Square Enix) in its shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Gangan from March 1991 to January 2001, with its chapters collected in 37 tankōbon volumes. The story follows adventurers Hamel, Flute, Raiel, Trombone, and Sizer as they journey to the demon continent to prevent a catastrophe. Hamel wields a magical violin, using its music to compel monstrous foes to repent—by taking their own lives. An anime film adaptation produced by Nippon Animation was released in April 1996. A 25-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by Studio Deen, was broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1996 to March 1997; the TV series adopts a darker, more dramatic tone than the original work and film adaptation. A manga sequel, titled Violinist of Hameln: Shchelkunchik, was serialized in Square Enix's seinen manga magazine Young Gangan from January 2008 to October 2011. In February 2012, Watanabe started a self-published series titled Zoku Violinist of Hameln.